Large-flowered mullein(Verbascum densiflorum) is a beautiful and magnificent plant, known since antiquity. The lush rosette of leaves has inflorescences up to 2 m high. It is worth knowing thatcommon mullein growing on the edge of the forestor along roadsides has valuable healing properties. See whatuses of large-flowered mulleinand how tocultivate mullein in the garden
Large-leaved mullein - Verbascum densiflorum
Fig. pixabay.com
Large-leaved mullein - properties
The large-leaved mullein is a biennialplant that produces a rosette of large leaves in the first year, and a tall, erect, sometimes branched flower stem with numerous flowers, reaching up to 2m in height in the second.Flower stems and mullein leavesare covered with a thick yellow-white cutter.
Large-leaved mullein blooms from July to SeptemberIt only takes a few hours to bloom on one flower cluster. The flower opens before sunrise and fades and falls in the evening. Additionally, high temperature and sunlight accelerate this process. Fortunately, one plant can produce multiple flowering shoots.
It isdelicate mullein flowers that are the main herbal material , and more specifically - dried flower crowns with anthers attached to them. The herb raw material of large-flowered mullein is golden in color, has a honey scent and a sweet taste.It quickly absorbs water from the air, which changes its color to brown. That is why it is important to dry the flowers immediately after harvesting.
Mullein flowers containmucilages, saponins, sugar and flavonoids, which have expectorant, astringent and soothing properties.
Large-leaved mullein - application
The large-leaved mullein blooms in the second year , and the harvest of its flowers is carried out gradually as it blooms, in the morning, in dry weather. The flowers are picked by hand and placed in baskets so that they do not crumple and infuse, because then they lose their color. Dry the collected inflorescences at a temperature of 35-45 ° C and pack them tightly.
Interestinglylarge-leaved mullein produces a large amount of pollen . As a result, it is frequently visited by insects, including bees. It can be combined with other honey plants, such as narrow-leaved lavender, on the bed.
Mullein inflorescences and ear drops
Fig. depositphotos.com
Large-leaved mullein has a therapeutic application , especially in the case of problems with the upper respiratory tract. It will help with cough, asthma, bronchitis. You can prepare tinctures from it, which are perfect for coughing, and drops for sore ears.
Recipe for ear drops from mullein
We need:a handful of mullein flowers and buds, 200 ml of base oil (can be sesame or linseed), crushed garlic clove.Put the mullein flowers in a jar and pour the oil, add the garlic . We close the jar and store it for 10 days at room temperature, then strain the macerate. Heat the finished oil in a water bath to 40 ° C, then gently pour a few drops into the sore ear. It is instilled in the ears several times a day. The drops have an anti-inflammatory effect.
Large-flowered mullein - cultivation
The large-leaved mullein likes sunny, dry and secluded places , providing it with shelter from wind and cold. It does not require high soil requirements, it succeeds in lighter soils. However, the better we provide her position, the more luxuriantly it grows and produces more flowers.
The cultivation of large-flowered mullein begins with sowingseeds, which are very small and sprout only in the light. Therefore, they should not be covered, but only sown and gently patted.Seeds of large-flowered mullein are sown in the seedbedor in the frame in spring and planted permanently in the same year. You can alsosow large-flowered mullein directly into the soilin late July and early August.
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
Katarzyna Matuszak
